Harpist Brings Sweet Music To Snyder Music Academy by STEPHANIE CRIDER
Although she is new to Snyder Music Academy, Andrea Blanchfi eld is no stranger to the harp. She’s been playing for about 12 years now, and is using her skills and knowledge base to teach her art to local music students.
She got her start as a harpist quite by chance, and to hear her tell it, it is one of the best things that could have happened to her. She’s always been enthusiastic about music, played the fl ute in elementary and middle school and even joined the recorder club and played in the all city choir just because they gave her another op- portunity to experience music. It all started in a small town in
Minnesota.
“My mom got a message from my music teacher and immediately, she asked ‘What did you do? Are you in trouble?’ I had no idea what she was talking about,” Blanchfi eld said, laughing. “He called her back and and told her that there was a harpist coming to teach at the high school. He said that I showed a love of music and that I was very musically inclined and asked if I was interested. My mom looked at me and said ‘Hey, do you want to
learn how to play the harp?’ and I said ‘What’s a harp?’ That is not some- thing that they bring to elementary school to sign people up for. So I took a few lessons, really enjoyed it and kept with it for all these years.” Blanchfi eld studied at Furman University, Greenville S.C., and graduated this spring. She has been the principle harpist for the Furman University Symphonic Orchestra, Furman University Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band. She’s a member of the Fur- man University Harp Ensemble, too.
Much of her training was under the tutelage of Anita Bur-
roughs-Price, principal harpist with the North Carolina Symphony. With eight years of professional performing and 12 years of training under her belt, Blanchfi eld is ready to share her experi- ence and talent with Fayetteville area harp students. She’s got a great vision that, once it comes to fruition, will be a boon for the entire community.
“I think right now, the fi ve students that I already have are such a blessing. I am looking forward to having several more,” said Blanchfi eld. “I think it would be great if we got enough interested students that kept up with it to have a small harp ensemble. That is something I did in college — we would play group harp music. That is something that I think would be really fun to do. A lot of these students are beginners, so it would take a while. I really think that what Snyder has going is great and I am just thankful to be a part of it.” To fi nd out more or to sign up for classes, contact Snyder Music Academy at 484-1041 or visit them at www.snydermbc.com/music.
STEPHANIE CRIDER, Staff Writer. Andrea Blanchfi eld
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SEPTEMBER 22-28, 2010 UCW 13
